Nerve monitoring during electrosurgery

Abstract

A signal processing module includes an input module electronically coupled to a sensing probe (52) of a nerve integrity monitoring system (10). The probe senses electrical signals from a patient during operation of an electrosurgical unit (12). The input module receives an input signal from the probe. An EMG detection module is coupled to the input module and is adapted to detect conditions in the input signal. The conditions are classified as a function of a level of electromyographic activity. An output module, coupled to the EMG detection module, provides an indication of electromyographic activity in the input signal based on the detected conditions.

Description

Background technique [0001] The present disclosure relates to neural monitoring systems. More specifically, the invention relates to monitoring neural activity during electrosurgery or in the presence of artifacts from metallic surgical instruments. [0002] Electrophysiological monitoring assists the surgeon in locating nerves within the ambiguous surgical field, as well as maintaining and assessing nerve function in real time during surgery. To this end, neural integrity monitoring is often employed to monitor electromyographic (EMG) activity. During neural integrity monitoring, sensing electrodes or recording electrodes are coupled to appropriate tissue (eg, cranial muscles innervated or controlled by nerves of interest, peripheral nerves, spinal cord, brainstem, etc.) to sense EMG activity. Stimulation, such as electrical or mechanical stimulation, can cause excitation of the tissue. During electrical stimulation, a stimulating probe applies a stimulating signal near an...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In situations where EMG activity cannot be monitored during electrosurgery, electrosurgery can become cumbersome and time-consuming

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